The Doctor had assured Kid that there was no way Lou could have children. It hadn’t been that much of a surprise to him then. He was more surprised that it hadn’t happened earlier, considering the numerous miscarriages Lou had suffered so close together. He had been disappointed, but never let his wife know. It was enough for him that she was alive, even if she was frail and weak. However, Kid began to wonder if maybe he hadn’t hidden his feelings as well as he’d thought.
There had been pride in Lou’s eyes when she broke the news. She was ecstatic that she had beaten the odds, and done what the doctor had said was impossible. Kid knew he had over-reacted, but he was scared out of his mind. Scared for her, and what would become of him if he lost her.
As he dismounted Katy, he discovered three horses tethered to the railing. One he recognized as Teaspoon’s, but he was at a loss to place the others. Taking a deep breath he tried to put on a neutral expression. There was no use concerning Teaspoon in his current problem.
“Hey Teaspoon, what are you doin’ here? I thought you weren’t due for another couple of weeks.” Kid asked as he entered the modest office.
Teaspoon looked up from the desk he was sitting at. Although it had been almost more than six years since he had been station master to a bunch of rowdy youths, he still hadn’t aged much. His hair was a little whiter, and his stomach was larger, but his countenance was still the same. He smiled wryly, but Kid could see there was something wrong.
“Well now Kid...I brought you two visitors. One I’m sure you’ll be happy to see, and the other...well...”
Before Kid could ask the enigmatic man what he meant, he saw a flash of uniform coming from the back room where the cells were located. It took him a minute to recognize the lithe form in front of him. Shoulder-length blonde hair framed a large face, now covered fashionably with a trim mustache and beard. The blue, almost turquoise eyes, still sparkled in mischief as he flashed white teeth at Kid.
“Billy? Is that you? Well I’ll be damned!” Kid exclaimed as he crossed the room to embrace his friend tightly.
“Good to see you Kid!” Cody returned as he slapped his old friend on the back.
“What are you doin’ here?”
Kid felt his stomach turn queasily as Cody and Teaspoon exchanged glances. Something was definitely up. Cody dug into his uniform jacket to retrieve a crisp white envelope, handing it to Kid, who opened it immediately. His heart sank further and further as he read each word.
“Where is he?” Kid asked as he gave the envelope back to Cody.
“I just locked him up in the back.” Cody said quietly.
Kid nodded and walked to the cells. The lone occupant didn’t acknowledge his presence as he stopped in front of the bars. He kept his blue eyes trained ahead, staring at the wall. His dark hair was longer than it had been when Kid had seen him last, and his face seemed older.
“Frank James.” Kid breathed, trying to get a hold on his emotions.
The man who was responsible for Noah’s death, and Jesse’s lost innocence sat before him, still as stone. His eyes held a fierceness that had never been there before and Kid shivered unconsciously. Frank looked at him then and smiled chillingly.
****************************************************************
Lou walked down the porch steps slowly. It was almost noon and Jimmy still hadn’t made his way into the house. She figured he was still sleeping, but she had missed him so much in the past few years and was eager for the company. All her anger at his conduct the night before vanished as she looked at his sleeping form.
He lay sprawled with his hat covering his face, seemingly oblivious to the horse eating hay around him. Lou covered her mouth to stifle the laugh threatening to explode, but it did no good. Soon she was doubled over, gasping for breath while wiping away tears. She hadn’t laughed like this in what seemed like years, and it felt good.
If Jimmy could ignore the hungry beast, he couldn’t Lou’s raucous laughter. Soon he was removing his hat and looking at her through squinted eyes. She only began to laugh harder at the straw in his hair, and soon even Jimmy cracked a smile. It had been a long time since he’d heard her laughter and it was music to his ears.
He looked at her now and thought how beautiful she was. Her once-cropped hair now hung down her back freely, pulled back from her face by two ivory combs. her face, usually pale, was flushed with red. Her eyes looked alive and impish, just as they had when they rode for the Express. The only indication he had that anything was wrong was the way she held on to the wall of the stable for support. Finally the last of her laughter died down and she extended a small hand down to Jimmy.
“Are you done?” Jimmy asked sarcastically, even as he took her outstretched hand.
“Mmm hmm..” Lou muttered as she bit her lip. Jimmy didn’t miss the slight wince that cross her face as she pulled him to his feet.
Before he could inquire of it, she launched herself into his arms and hugged him tightly, burying her face into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her securely and was frightened at how frail she felt, as if she’d break if he held her too firmly. She looked at him, her cheeks wet from the tears she was rapidly shedding.
“What is it Lou?” Jimmy asked panicked as he brought his rough hands to gently swipe the rolling tears.
“I’m just so happy to see you.” Lou whispered as she reached out her hand to touch his face, as if to determine whether he were really there. “I’ve waited so long.”
Jimmy’s face dropped in shame. “I’m sorry about that Lou. I--”
“Shh...it’s all right Jimmy.” Lou silenced him by placed her small finger on his lips. “Let’s go into the house and catch up.”
Jimmy nodded his assent and let Lou lead him out of the barn. “Where’s Kid?” He asked suddenly, hoping the two of them had managed to make up.
A shadow crossed Lou’s face momentarily at the mention of Kid’s name, but she quickly smiled. “He’s gone to work.” she said simply.
Just then they heard the sound of approaching horses and Lou’s head snapped behind her to see who could be riding at such break-neck speed. She felt her knees go weak as her mind began to race furiously. Maybe it was someone from town, coming to tell her that Kid had been hurt, or worse. An acute pain struck her heart as she thought of their last angry parting that morning. However, Lou calmed herself as she registered that they were not coming from town since they were riding in from the west.
“Who’s that?” Jimmy asked.
“I don’t know.” Lou replied absently as she took a few steps forward. She tried to catch a glimpse of the approaching riders. The only thing she could discern was that there were four of them.
Time seemed to drag on forever as they waited for the riders to come closer. Finally they pulled their horses to a halt a few feet in front of the curious pair. One man, the leader she supposed, dismounted his horse and strode towards them. Lou still didn’t recognize the tall man in front of her, but there was something familiar about him.
“Hey Lou.” He said simply, smiling lopsidedly at her. She looked at him in confusion, slightly cocking her head to once side. The voice was as alien as the face. However, as she studied his face more carefully, her heart began to flutter wildly. It was hard to reconcile the two images in her mind: that of the man in front of her, and the boy he’d been not too long ago. But it was definitely him; she knew from the way his blue eyes sparkled now, and the smile splitting his face.
“Jesse!” Lou gasped, right as he pulled his gun out to point it at her chest.
TO BE CONTINUED..................CHAPTER 4
